Hospital—Harper's Ferry

Dec. 14^th 1862

 

Dear Father—

                        Since Ive got into the hospital, I suppose you will all worry more or less about me, and so, although I wrote only a day or two ago, I write again to let you know how comfortable I am, and how well I am getting along. We have the most attentive Doctors and nurses. We officers from the 20^th have one large room to ourselves, with a large fire-place in it and all the accomodations usually found in a sick room. The Doctors are very particular to get us nice food, to tempt our appetites, and chickens, turkeys, oysters and jellies are drawing mine out quite rapidly. My strength is coming back quite perceptibly, though I guess I couldn't march very far to day. The Regiment are probably having a pretty hard march, and I don't know but I may on the whole be thankful that I am not with them. But I don't like the idea of sending my Company out under my 1^st Lieut. The new Adjutant arrived a week or so ago, and has of course gone on with the Reg. I hope to join my Co. before they go into battle. They will hardly reach Burnside before he meets the enemy, and I guess I will be there before another battle takes place. /

 

When I join the Reg. I shall have to go by rail via Washington. We have not been paid yet. Another pay day, Dec 31^st will undoubtedly come around before we are paid. If the Corps had not moved we should have been paid last week. There's no telling when we shall see a paymaster now. My cheek bones are quite prominent, and you would laugh to see me tottling like an aged patriarch of 90, around my room. We all keep up first rate spirits, and make a joke out of the smallest incidents. I go among the Doctors by the name of Capt Amos, and a Lieut by the name of Foley is universally called Hanley. The romance of female nurses we have not yet been afflicted with, and I trust we shall not. We have three intelligent soldiers and they serve us faithfully. I am getting tired and must stop writing. This is a pretty long letter for a sick man to write. Give much love to all, and don't feel the least anxiety about

                                                            Y'r aff. son

                                                                        Charlie.

 

[margin]

 

Charlie

            Dec. 14/62

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